FEBRUARY 8 • 2024 | 9
J
N
their search of the premises
and the family was able to
hide from them until the
terrorists finally left many
hours later. Our guide then
gave us the punchline: The
older man and woman
are his parents, and the
granddaughter is his
daughter.
While walking, we then
saw an older man outside
of his ruined home sitting
on a worn-out chair. When
someone asked why he still
lives on the kibbutz, we
were told that this is still
his home, and he does not
want to leave.
It took the IDF eight
hours to get to Kibbutz
Nir Oz. By the time they
arrived, the carnage
had been done and the
terrorists had returned to
Gaza.
When my friend asked
the guide how he could
talk about the devastation,
his answer was that
people need to know what
happened.
Following the visit to
Kibbutz Nir Oz, we then
went to an army base and
helped make a BBQ for
the soldiers who were
thrilled and grateful to eat
something besides tuna.
The soldiers enjoyed the
feast and chatting with
the young women from a
seminary who presented
them with greeting cards.
We left the BBQ knowing
that we had to share this
incredible experience with
others, especially when
much of the world view
is so antagonistic toward
Israel.
The next day we heard
from the organizer of our
tour to Kibbutz Nir Oz that
some of those soldiers at
the BBQ the night before
were with the group of
21 soldiers killed in the
explosion in Gaza. There
are no words.
Lea Luger is the former executive
director of Yad Ezra. She now lives
in Charleston, S.C., where she is
a volunteer and does nonprofit
consulting.
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